Stitcher feed mechanism



Jan. 18, 1927. ,5

M. CHRISTENSEN STITCHEH FEED MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2, 1926 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF'FTCE.

MARTIN CERISTENSE'H, OF EIAMHURST, ILLINOIS, AESIGNOR TO THE CHRISTINE MACHINE COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

STITCHEB FEED MECHANISM.

Application filed January 2, L926. Seri'alNo. 78,929. g

The invention relates to book-stitching machines and more particularly to the feeding mechanism for carrying the books through the Stitching section of the machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and novel combination of parts forming the feeding mechanism, wherein a pluralit of fingers are adapted to move with a fee bar to be moved to a gripping position with the signatures by the operation of a bar movable with and relative to the feed bar.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through feed mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View taken on the line '22 of Fig. 1, showing the fingers in release position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the fingers in gripping position.

In the drawings the numeral 4 designates the signaturesupporting table or saddle, 5 stapling mechanism, 6 the clincher mechanism cooperating therewith, 7 a reciprocating feed-bar mounted within a recess 8 within the frame 9 of the saddle, 10 a feed-bar, 11 an auxiliary feed-bar, 12 a support for both the bars 9 and 10, and 13 a bracket carrying said support and secured to the framework 14 of the machine.

The feed bars 7 and 10 are reciprocated in any suitable manner and at the same speed. As shown, the feed bar 7 has a bracket 15 connected by a link 16, shown only in elevation, with an oscillatory rod 17. The feed bar 10 is secured to a bracket 18 connected by a link 19, shown only in elevation, with an oscillatory rod 20. The auxiliary bar 11 carries a plurality of pins 21 and a finger 22 is pivotally mounted on each of said pins and faces the feed bar 7 and these fingers co-l operate with the bar 7 to grip a group 23 of signatures between them and the bar to advance said signatures through the stitching section of the machineon the forward travel of the bars 7 and 10. Each finger is springpressed toward the signatures by a spring 24 secured at 25 to the rear arm of the finger and at its other end to a stop pin 26 which engages the rear arm of the next adjacent finger. Thus the bar 11 is connected through the fingers 22 and the springs 24 and pins 26 with the feed bar 10 so that as the feed bar 10 is reciprocated the fingers 22 and bar 11 will move therewith.

In order to produce a movement of the fingers against the signatures during the forward feeding of the bars 10 and 11, a bellcran'k lever 28 is pivotally mounted at 29 on the bar 10 and carries a roller 30 engageable with a lengthwise extending bar 31 carried by arms '32, mounted on a rock-shaft 33. This rock-shaft may be operated and controlled in a manner similar to that of my prior United States Patent No. 1,351,231. The forward end of the bell-crank lever 28 is operatively connected by a link 34 with the bar 11.

lVit-h this construction, as the feed bars 7 and 10 move forwardly the shaft- 33 is oscillated to swing the arms 32 and rod'31 inwardly, engaging the bell-crank or cranks 28 and swinging them so as to move the bar 11 in a forward direction relative to the bar 10, with the result that the fingers are moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the springs 24 are put under a further tension and the fingers 22 engage the signatures 23 and clamp said signatures between them and the feed bar 7. Thus, as'both the feed bars 7 and '10 move forwardly the bar 11 moves forwardly with the bar 10 with the fingers 22 engaged with the signatures and thus the signatures are moved forwardly. When the forward stroke of the bar 10 is completed the shaft 33 rocks rearwardly thereby permitting the springs 24 to move the bar 11 back to the position shown in Fig. 2, and thus release the fingers from the signatures. Thereafter the feed bars 7 and 10 travel backwardly to again take up the forward feeding stroke and the fingers operate as previously described to again advance the signatures along the saddle or table 4.

Thus, as the feed bars 7 and 10 start on their forward movement the feed bar 11 is 100 along the support. \Vhen the bars 7 and 10 1 05 complete their forward movement the release of bar 31 permits the bar 11 to move relative to the bar 10 to a position causing a release of the fingers so that as the bars 7 and 10 move on their return stroke the bar 11 moves 110 therewith to a position to again engage with the signatures in a new position and thus upon the next operation of the machine cause their further advance along the table or support.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any specific form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

" hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a signature-feeding mechanism, the combination of a table having a movable feed means upon which the signatures are disposed, a plurality of fingers cooperating with said means to engage the signatures, means comprising a pair of finger-operating feed bars movable together when the fingers are engaged with the signatures to move them forwardly simultaneously with the forward movement of the first-named feed means, and means for moving said fingeroperating bars relative to each other to engage and disengage said fingers.

2. In a signature-feeding mechanism, for book-stitching machines, the combination of a table having a movable feed means upon which the signatures are disposed, a reciprocating main feed bar outside the table, an auxiliary feed bar, a plurality of springpressed fingers pivotally mounted on the auxiliary bar and engageable with signatures on the table to hold'the same against the first-named feed means, springs for yieldingly connecting said fingers with said mainfeed bar, whereby said main feed bar and auxiliary feed bar will move together, and means for moving said auxiliary feed bar relative to said main feed bar to engage and disengage said fingers with signatures on said table. 7

8. In a signature-feeding mechanism, the combination of a table having a movable feed bar in the face thereof, a plurality of fingers cooperating with said feed bar to engage the signatures, means comprising a pair of feed bars movable relative to each other to engage said fingers with the signatures and movable forwardly together with the forward movement of the first-named bar to advance the signatures along said table and thereafter movable relative to each other to disengage said fingers, and means for causing relative movement between the fingeroperating bars.

4. In a signature-feeding mechanism, the combination. of a table having a reciprocating feed bar in the face thereof, a reciprocating feed bar outside said table, a reciprocating finger-carrying bar, means including springs'operatively connecting said finger-carrying bar with said second-mentioned bar, means for reciprocating said second-mentioned bar and said finger-supporting bar, and means for causing relative movement between the finger-supporting bar and said second-mentioned bar at the beginning and end of its forward travel, causing said fingers to respectively engage and disengage with signatures on said table and thereby cooperate with said bars to intermittently advance said signatures along said table. 7

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

MARTIN CHRISTENSEN, 

